Chandigarh, November 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday inaugurated 1,000 more ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ across the state, taking the total number of inaugurated rural sports grounds to 1,764 out of the targeted 3,100. The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots sports infrastructure and channelise young people’s energy towards sports and away from drugs.
Attending the inauguration ceremony at Shahpur village in the Amloh Assembly constituency of Fatehgarh Sahib, Mann said Punjab was building the foundation to emerge as a hub of international sporting talent. He said the government was equipping village sports grounds with facilities and kits for football, hockey, volleyball and cricket.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said sports could play an important role in keeping youngsters away from drugs and encouraging them to pursue constructive activities. He said the initiative was part of the government’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign and aimed to develop a sporting culture in every village.
Mann said 255 sports grounds were inaugurated during the first phase on May 4, followed by 509 on August 24. With the addition of 1,000 grounds in the third phase, the project has made further progress. These include 93 sports grounds in Fatehgarh Sahib district.
He said the government was developing the grounds with six-foot-high chain-link fencing, plantation along boundaries, six-foot-wide walking tracks with footlights, separate toilets for men and women, equipment storerooms and water facilities through submersible pumps and hydrants.
The facilities will also include children’s play areas with swings, ladder bars and slides, high-mast lights, and playing spaces for volleyball, football and hockey. Selected grounds will have six-lane, 400-metre running tracks, while green turfs are also being developed.
The Chief Minister said sports equipment would be supplied to villages, including football and hockey goalposts, volleyball poles and nets, volleyballs, footballs and cricket kits. Villages would also receive 36 pairs of football studs, while those with a strong interest in cricket would be provided complete cricket kits.
Mann added that football and volleyball coaches would be deployed at all sports grounds to provide free training to youngsters. Village-level committees under the Gram Panchayats would oversee maintenance. These committees would include the Sarpanch, Youth Club president, concerned Junior Engineer and Panchayat Secretary, along with a woman member or sportsperson nominated by the Panchayat.
Taking a swipe at previous governments, Mann alleged that they had neither provided grants to villages nor undertaken adequate development work. He said his government was prioritising sports infrastructure to give rural youngsters opportunities to pursue their ambitions and represent Punjab at national and international levels.
Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and other dignitaries were also present at the event.
Government Highlights Wider Sports Development Programme
The state government said it had committed Rs 1,500 crore for developing 3,100 modern ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ across Punjab. The initiative is part of its broader effort to strengthen grassroots sports facilities under ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’.
According to the government, Punjab has also allocated a sports budget of Rs 1,744 crore and is developing 600 rural gyms, of which 500 have been completed and inaugurated.
Under the Sports Policy introduced in 2023, prize money amounting to Rs 135 crore has been distributed to 40,415 sportspersons since 2022, the government said. Financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh for Olympic preparation and Rs 8 lakh for Asian and Commonwealth Games preparation is also being provided.
The government is additionally promoting sporting events through ‘Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan’, hosting the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy and organising the ‘She-e-Punjab T20 League’. These initiatives are aimed at expanding opportunities for rural talent to compete at national and international levels.
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